My name is Carmeon Hamilton and I’m an interior designer and blogger based in Memphis, TN. And, although I spend most of my time either in front of my laptop or in a thrift store, I’m also a devoted wife and mother to a rambunctious 4 year old boy.

How long have you been natural?
I guess you can say that I’ve been natural for over 16 months now, since I big chopped back in April of 2012. I tried transitioning for over a year, but just couldn’t handle the six different textures that my hair was taking on.

How would you describe your hair?
I would describe my hair as suuuuuper thick and very coily. If you put a gun to my head and told me that I had to tell you my hair type, I’d have to take a guess at it and say it’s mostly 4a, but in areas like the front, it’s more of 3c. But, to tell you the truth, I have no idea what those numbers and letters mean.

What do you love most about your hair?
Regardless of how it’s described, I love my hair unconditionally! In spite of our fights and disagreements, it’s always there, standing up for me, keeping me warm and opening up doors for me to meet new and interesting people. I love that it hides the fact that I’m overdue for an eyebrow threading. I love that it’s the perfect accessory to any outfit. I love that it’s the reason that strangers feel so compelled to introduce themselves and want to know more about me!

Now, my love for my hair doesn’t excuse its stubbornness. It has a mind of its own and rarely does what I want it to do. It’s like trying to bridle a wild horse. So, I don’t fight it. I let it do what it wants. It tells me what it’s going to do, so I listen and I let it. I think it’s what makes our relationship so great.

What are some of your favorite styles?
My go-to styles have always been the wash-n-go and the two-strand twist out. When I twist my hair, I leave it twisted for 2-3 days, depending on what’s going on. After the second or third day, I very carefully take the twists down, trying not to disturb the curls. Every night, I separate my hair into ten sections and ponytail each section with elastic bands. This helps to stretch my hair without disturbing my curls, ultimately, making my afro bigger and bigger as each day passes. Works every single time.

What have your experiences been as a ‘natural?’
I get lots of compliments on my hair all the time from lots of different people. But one of the most important people in my life very rarely comments on it; my loving husband. Now, when he met me, my hair was permed and extremely long (passed my bra strap), so me being natural has been quite the adjustment for him. He always says that it’s not that he doesn’t like it; it’s just that he doesn’t have anything to say about it. And it’s not the fact that it’s natural, it’s the fact that it’s short. Mind you, I got the full sign off of permission before I cut it all off! It’s one of those things that I’ve had to grow to accept. He’ll love it in another two years or so. 0_o

Anything you want the readers to know? Inspirational words?
When making the decision to be natural, know that everyone is not going to support your decision. It has to be a decision that you make for yourself and it has to be one that you are more than secure in. No, your hair is not going to cooperate with you all the time. Rest assured that there will be some bad hair days. But it’s those good days, like when you’re walking through Kroger getting groceries and a stranger stops you to 1. ask “Is that your real hair?” and 2. tell you that you’re rocking it like no one that they’ve ever seen, that makes it all worth it!

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The views expressed on curlynikki.com belong to the blogger Nikki Walton and do not necessarily reflect the views of TextureMedia, LLC, NaturallyCurly or their affiliates or any of the brands discussed or featured on curlynikki.com.